Apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Provided is an apparatus including: an acquiring unit configured to acquire data destined for a second terminal device which is transmitted from a first terminal device to a base station of a cellular system; and a control unit configured to control transmission of the data in a manner that the data is transferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal device without going through a gateway configured to perform data transfer in the cellular system. The control unit controls transmission of information related to the data to the gateway or a specific node, and the specific node is a node configured to receive, from the gateway, information related to another data transferred via the gateway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/306,679, filed Oct. 25, 2016, which is based on PCT filingPCT/JP2015/060896, filed Apr. 7, 2015, and claims priority to JP2014-110218, filed May 28, 2014, the entire contents of each areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, cellular networks have become widespread. Cellularnetworks generally include radio access networks and core networks. Forexample, in a radio access network, a base station receives data from aterminal device or transmits data to a terminal device. In a corenetwork, for example, transmission and reception of data with anexternal network, transfer of data between the base stations, and thelike are performed.

For transmission and reception of data in a cellular network, varioustechniques have been proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1discloses a technique in which a UE divides transmission packets intofirst packets and second packets, transmits the first packets to anotherterminal via only an eNodeB, and transmits the second packets to anotherterminal via an access gateway and an eNodeB.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2012-110035A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, for example,since some data is transmitted to another terminal via the accessgateway, a load on the core network is unlikely to be sufficientlyreduced. Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, forexample, since some data is transmitted to another terminal withoutgoing through the access gateway, it is difficult to perform managementrelated to transmission and reception of data in the cellular network.

In this regard, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that enablesmanagement related to transmission and reception of data to be performedwhile reducing the load on the core network.

Solution to Problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatusincluding: an acquiring unit configured to acquire data destined for asecond terminal device which is transmitted from a first terminal deviceto a base station of a cellular system; and a control unit configured tocontrol transmission of the data in a manner that the data istransferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal devicewithout going through a gateway configured to perform data transfer inthe cellular system. The control unit controls transmission ofinformation related to the data to the gateway or a specific node, andthe specific node is a node configured to receive, from the gateway,information related to another data transferred via the gateway.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a methodincluding: acquiring data destined for a second terminal device which istransmitted from a first terminal device to a base station of a cellularsystem, controlling, by a processor, transmission of the data in amanner that the data is transferred from the first terminal device tothe second terminal device without going through a gateway configured toperform data transfer in the cellular system; and controlling, by theprocessor, transmission of information related to the data to thegateway or a specific node. The specific node is a node configured toreceive, from the gateway, information related to another datatransferred via the gateway.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure described above, management relatedto transmission and reception of data can be performed while the load onthe core network is reduced. Note that the effects described above arenot necessarily limited, and along with or instead of the effects, anyeffect that is desired to be introduced in the present specification orother effects that can be expected from the present specification may beexhibited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of aschematic configuration of a cellular system according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa base station according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a tableused for determining whether or not data is can be transferred withoutgoing through a gateway.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of data destined for a second terminal device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of data destined for a second terminal device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of data-related information according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of data-related information according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example oftransmission of data-related information according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of a schematicflow of a process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of aschematic flow of a process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a schematic flow of atransmission decision process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of anintegrated packet.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example oftransmission of data and data-related information according to amodified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of aschematic configuration of a cellular system according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa network device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of data-related information according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of data-related information according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example oftransmission of data-related information according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of aschematic flow of a process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a schematic flow of atransmission decision process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of data and data-related information according to amodified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of data and data-related information according to amodified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of aschematic configuration of a cellular system according to a thirdembodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa network controller according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example ofinfluence of a transfer rule by mobility.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example ofinfluence of a transfer rule by mobility.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example ofinfluence of a transfer rule by mobility.

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a schematicflow of a process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a schematic flowof a transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of a schematic flowof a transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of a schematic flowof a transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a server.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a first example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic configuration of the eNB.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a router.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, (a) preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure willbe described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In thisspecification and the drawings, elements that have substantially thesame function and structure are denoted with the same reference signs,and repeated explanation is omitted.

In this specification and the drawings, there are cases in whichcomponents having substantially the same functional configuration aredistinguished by adding different alphabets to the end of the samereference numeral. For example, a plurality of components havingsubstantially the same functional configuration are distinguished like aterminal device 30A and a terminal device 30B, as necessary. However,when a plurality of components having substantially the same functionalconfiguration need not be particularly distinguished, only the samereference numeral is added. For example, when the terminal device 30Aand the terminal device 30B need not be particularly distinguished, theyare referred to simply as a “terminal device 30.”

The description will proceed in the following order.

1. First Embodiment

1.1. Configuration of cellular system

1.2. Configuration of base station

1.3. Flow of process

1.4. Modified example

2. Second Embodiment

2.1. Configuration of cellular system

2.2. Configuration of network device

2.3. Flow of process

2.4. Modified example

3. Third Embodiment

3.1. Configuration of cellular system

3.2. Configuration of network controller

3.3. Flow of process

4. Application examples

4.1. Application examples for base station

4.2. Application examples for network device

5. Conclusion

«1. First Embodiment»

A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 15.

<1.1. Configuration of Cellular System>

First, a schematic configuration of a cellular system 1-1 according tothe first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematicconfiguration of the cellular system 1-1 according to the firstembodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the cellular system 1-1 according tothe first embodiment includes a base station 100 and a gateway 21. Thecellular system 1-1 is, for example, a system that conforms to LTE,LTE-Advanced, or a communication standard equivalent thereto.

The base station 100 is a base station of the cellular system 1-1 andfunctions as a node of a radio access network (RAN) of the cellularsystem 1-1. For example, the base station 100 performs wirelesscommunication with a terminal device located in a communication area(that is, a cell) of the base station 100. Specifically, for example,the base station 100 transmits data and control information to aterminal device and receives data and control information from aterminal device.

The gateway 21 is a gateway of the cellular system 1-1 and functions asa node of a core network (CN) of the cellular system 1-1. For example,the gateway 21 performs data transfer in the cellular system 1-1. Forexample, the gateway 21 performs data transfer between the base stationsand performs data transfer between another gateway and the base station.Another gateway performs data transfer between the cellular system 1-1and the external network. Specifically, for example, the gateway 21 is aserving gateway (S-GW), and the other gateway is a packet data network(PDN) gateway (P-GW).

There may be a network device (for example, a router or the like)between the base station 100 and the gateway 21. It will be appreciatedthat the cellular system 1-1 may include one or more other basestations.

According to the first embodiment, the base station 100 transmits datadestined for a second terminal device which is transmitted from a firstterminal device to the base station 100 so that the data is transferredfrom the first terminal device to the second terminal device withoutgoing through the gateway 21. The base station 100 transmits informationrelated to the data to the gateway 21 or a specific node. The specificnode is a node that receives information related to other datatransferred via the gateway 21 from the gateway 21.

<1.2. Configuration of Base Station>

Next, an example of a configuration of the base station 100 according tothe first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG.8. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configurationof the base station 100 according to the first embodiment. Referring toFIG. 2, the base station 100 includes an antenna unit 110, a wirelesscommunication unit 120, a network communication unit 130, a storage unit140, and a processing unit 150.

(Antenna Unit 110)

The antenna unit 110 radiates a signal output from the wirelesscommunication unit 120 into the air as radio waves. The antenna unit 110converts the radio waves in the air into a signal, and outputs thesignal to the wireless communication unit 120.

(Wireless Communication Unit 120)

The wireless communication unit 120 transmits or receives a signal. Forexample, the wireless communication unit 120 transmits the downlinksignal to the terminal device positioned within the communication areaof the base station 100 (that is, a cell), and receives the uplinksignal from the terminal device positioned within the communicationarea.

(Network Communication Unit 130)

The network communication unit 130 performs communication with anothernode. For example, the network communication unit 130 performscommunication with the gateway 21. For example, the networkcommunication unit 130 performs communication with another base station.

(Storage Unit 140)

The storage unit 140 temporarily or permanently stores a program anddata for an operation of the base station 100.

(Processing Unit 150)

The processing unit 140 provides various functions of the base station100. The processing unit 150 includes an information acquiring unit 151and a communication control unit 153. The processing unit 150 mayfurther include any other component in addition to the above-mentionedcomponents. In other words, the processing unit 150 may also perform anoperation other than operations of the above-mentioned components.

(Information Acquiring Unit 151)

The information acquiring unit 151 acquires data destined for the secondterminal device which is transmitted from the first terminal device tothe base station 100.

For example, the first terminal device transmits data to the basestation 100. Then, the base station 100 receives the data and stores thedata in the storage unit 140. Thereafter, at any timing, the informationacquiring unit 151 acquires the data from the storage unit 140.

(Communication Control Unit 153)

(a) Transmission of Data

The communication control unit 153 controls transmission of the data(that is, the data destined for the second terminal device which istransmitted from the first terminal device to the base station 100).

Transfer of Data without Going Through Gateway 21

Particularly, in the first embodiment, the communication control unit153 controls transmission of the data so that the data is transferredfrom the first terminal device to the second terminal device withoutgoing through the gateway 21.

Condition

For example, when a condition for the transfer from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device is satisfied, the communicationcontrol unit 153 performs control on transmission of the data such thatthe data is transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through the gateway 21.

Specifically, for example, the condition is that the data is able to betransferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal devicewithout going through the gateway 21. In other words, when the data isable to be transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through the gateway 21, the communicationcontrol unit 153 performs control on transmission of the data such thatthe data is transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through the gateway 21.

As an example, the base station 100 stores a table used for determiningwhether or not the data is able to be transferred without going throughthe gateway 21 in the storage unit 140, and the communication controlunit 153 determines whether or not the data is able to be transferredwithout going through the gateway 21 based on the table. A specificexample of the table will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of the tableused for determining whether or not the data is able to be transferredwithout going through the gateway 21. Referring to FIG. 3, the tableincludes pairs of identification information (for example, AAA and BBB)of identification information of the base station and identificationinformation (for example, CCC, DDD, EEE, FFF and GGG) of the terminaldevice. More specifically, the table includes pairs of identificationinformation of other base stations capable of receiving data from thebase station 100 without the data going through the gateway 21 and thebase station 100 and identification information of terminal devicescapable of performing communication with the base stations (for example,terminal devices connected to the base stations) (for example, a pair ofAAA and CCC). For example, when the identification information of thesecond terminal device is in the table, the communication control unit153 determines that the data is able to be transferred without goingthrough the gateway 21. On the other hand, when there is noidentification information of the second terminal device serving as thedestination of the data in the table, the communication control unit 153determines that the data is not able to be transferred without goingthrough the gateway 21.

For example, the table is provided by any one node or generated by thebase station 100 based on information provided by any one node. As anexample, the table is provided by the network controller 500 accordingto the third embodiment which will be described later. As anotherexample, the table is provided by any one core network node (forexample, a Mobility Management Entity (MME), an S-GW, or the like).

Specific Examples of Transmission

As a first example, when the base station 100 can perform communicationwith the second terminal device, the base station 100 directly transmitsthe data destined for the second terminal device to the second terminaldevice. Regarding this point, a specific example will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of the data destined for the second terminal device.Referring to FIG. 4, the base station 100, a first terminal device 30A,and a second terminal device 30B are illustrated. The first terminaldevice 30A transmits the data destined for the second terminal device30B to the base station 100. In this example, since the base station 100can perform communication with the second terminal device 30B, the basestation 100 directly transmits the data to the second terminal device30B.

As a second example, when another base station capable of receiving thedata from the base station 100 without the data going through thegateway 21 can perform communication with the second terminal device,the base station 100 transmits the data destined for the second terminaldevice to another base station. Regarding this point, a specific examplewill be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of the data destined for the second terminal device.Referring to FIG. 5, the base station 100, the first terminal device30A, and the second terminal device 30B are illustrated. The firstterminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the second terminaldevice 30B to the base station 100. In this example, since another basestation 10 capable of receiving the data from the base station 100without the data going through the gateway 21 can perform communicationwith the second terminal device 30B, the base station 100 transmits thedata to another base station 10. Then, another base station 10 transmitsthe data to the second terminal device 30B.

Specific Examples of Transmission Control

As a first example, when the base station 100 can perform communicationwith the second terminal device, the communication control unit 153triggers transmission of the data from the base station 100 to thesecond terminal device. As a result, the base station 100 wirelesslytransmits the data to the second terminal device.

As a second example, when another base station capable of receiving thedata from the base station 10 without the data going through the gateway21 can perform communication with the second terminal device, thecommunication control unit 153 generates a packet destined for anotherbase station including the data destined for the second terminal device,and causes the network communication unit 130 to transmit the packet.

Transfer of Data Via Gateway 21

It will be appreciated that the communication control unit 153 maycontrol transmission of the data such that the data is transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device via the gateway21.

Condition

For example, when the condition for the transfer from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device is not satisfied, the communicationcontrol unit 153 may control transmission of the data such that the datais transferred from the first terminal device to the second terminaldevice via the gateway 21.

Specific Example of Transmission

For example, the base station 100 transmits the data destined for thesecond terminal device to the gateway 21.

Specific Example of Transmission Control

For example, the communication control unit 153 generates a packetdestined for the gateway 21 including the data destined for the secondterminal device, and causes the network communication unit 130 totransmit the packet.

(b) Transmission of Data-Related Information

As described above, for example, the communication control unit 153controls transmission of the data such that the data (that is, the datadestined for the second terminal device which is transmitted from thefirst terminal device to the base station 100)) is transferred from thefirst terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway 21. In this case, the communication control unit 153controls transmission of information related to the data (hereinafterreferred to as “data-related information”) to the gateway 21 or aspecific node. In other words, through control by the communicationcontrol unit 153, the base station 100 transmits the data-relatedinformation to the gateway 21 or the specific node.

Data Serving as Target

For example, the data-related information is information related to dataof packet units. In other words, the base station 100 transmits thedata-related information of packet units to the gateway 21 or thespecific node. The packet may be a packet that is transmitted to andreceived from the terminal device or may be a packet that is transmittedand received between the base stations or between the base station andthe gateway 21.

The data-related information may be information related to data ofsession units. In other words, the base station 100 transmits thedata-related information of session units to the gateway 21 or thespecific node.

Data-related Information

Terminal Information

For example, the data-related information includes information about atleast one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device(hereinafter referred to as “terminal information”). In other words, thedata-related information includes information about a transmissionsource and destination of the data.

For example, the terminal information includes identificationinformation of at least one of the first terminal device and the secondterminal device. More specifically, for example, the terminalinformation includes an ID (for example, a temporary ID, a permanent ID,or the like) or an address (for example, an Internet Protocol (IP)address).

For example, it is possible to detect a terminal device that performstransmission and reception of data based on the terminal information.

Data Amount Information

For example, the data-related information includes informationindicating an amount of the data destined for the second terminal device(hereinafter referred to as “data amount information”).

As described above, for example, the data-related information isinformation related to data of packet units. In this case, for example,the data amount information is a data size for a packet. The data sizemay be a data size of the entire packet (a header portion and a dataportion) or may be a data size of a part of the packet (for example, adata portion).

As described above, the data-related information may be informationrelated to data of session units. In this case, the data amountinformation may be an amount of packets that are transmitted andreceived within a session or may be a size of all data that istransmitted and received within a session.

It is possible to detect, for example, an amount of data that istransmitted and received based on the data amount information.

Resource Amount

The data-related information may include information indicating anamount of radio resources used for transmission of the data (hereinafterreferred to as “resource amount information”).

As a specific example, the resource amount information may be the numberof resource blocks, the number of sub frames, the number of slots, thenumber of transport blocks, or the number of sub carriers, or acombination of one or more of these. The amount of radio resourcesindicated by the resource amount information may include the amount ofradio resources necessary for retransmission or may not include theamount of radio resources necessary for retransmission.

It is possible to detect, for example, the amount of radio resourcesused for transmission and reception of data based on the resource amountinformation.

The resource amount information may be generated by a function such as aphysical layer, a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, or a Radio ResourceControl (RRC) layer of wireless communication.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

As an example, the data-related information may include information forcharging. More specifically, for example, the data-related informationincludes the terminal information and the data amount information (orthe resource amount information) as the information for charging.

It is possible to perform charging for transmission and reception ofdata based on the information for charging even when transmission isperformed without going through the gateway 21.

In this case, the communication control unit 153 may controltransmission of the data-related information to the gateway 21 or thespecific node through a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function(BBERF). In other words, the BBERF is also installed in the base station100, and the data-related information may be transmitted through theBBERF.

Technique of Acquiring Data-related Information

For example, the communication control unit 153 generates thedata-related information. Then, the communication control unit 153acquires the generated data-related information.

Accordingly, for example, the gateway 21 or the specific node canacquire the data-related information without adding a new function tothe terminal device or the network device (for example, a router or thelike).

Transmission Destination of Data-related Information

Gateway 21

For example, the communication control unit 153 controls transmission ofthe data-related information to the gateway 21. In other words, throughcontrol by the communication control unit 153, the base station 100transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21. Regarding thispoint, a specific example will be described below with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the firstembodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the base station 100, the gateway 21,the first terminal device 30A, and the second terminal device 30B areillustrated. In this example, similarly to the example illustrated inFIG. 4, the base station 100 directly transmits the data destined forthe second terminal device 30B which is transmitted from the firstterminal device 30A to the base station 100 to the second terminaldevice 30B. The base station 100 transmits the information related tothe data (that is, the data-related information) to the gateway 21.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the firstembodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, the base station 100, the gateway 21,the first terminal device 30A, and the second terminal device 30B areillustrated. In this example, similarly to the example illustrated inFIG. 5, the base station 100 transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B which is transmitted from the first terminal device30A to the base station 100 to another base station 10 capable ofperforming communication with the second terminal device 30B. The basestation 100 transmits the information related to the data (that is, thedata-related information) to the gateway 21.

Accordingly, for example, the gateway 21 can acquire the informationrelated to the data transferred without going through the gateway 21.Thus, the gateway 21 can transmit the information related to both of thedata transferred via the gateway 21 and the data transferred withoutgoing through the gateway 21 to a specific node (for example, a nodehaving a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)).

Specific Node

Alternatively, the communication control unit 153 may controltransmission of the data-related information to the specific node. Inother words, through control by the communication control unit 153, thebase station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node. The specific node is a node that receives informationrelated to other data transferred via the gateway 21 (hereinafter,“other data-related information”) from the gateway 21. As an example,the specific node is a node having the PCRF. Regarding this point, aspecific example will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the firstembodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, the base station 100, the gateway 21,and a specific node 23 are illustrated. In this example, similarly tothe examples illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, data is transferred from thefirst terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway 21. Particularly, in this example, the base station100 transmits the information related to the data (that is, thedata-related information) to the specific node 23. The gateway 21transmits the information related to other data transferred via thegateway 21 (that is, other data-related information) to the specificnode 23.

Accordingly, for example, the specific node can acquire the informationrelated to the data transferred via the gateway 21 (that is, otherdata-related information) and the information related to the datatransferred without going through the gateway 21 (that is, thedata-related information).

Specific Example of Transmission Control

As described above, for example, the communication control unit 153controls transmission of the data-related information to the gateway 21.In this case, the communication control unit 153 generates the packetdestined for the gateway 21 including the data-related information, andcauses the network communication unit 130 to transmit the packet.

Alternatively, as described above, the communication control unit 153may control transmission of the data-related information to the specificnode. In this case, the communication control unit 153 generates thepacket destined for the specific node including the data-relatedinformation, and causes the network communication unit 130 to transmitthe packet.

The configuration of the base station 100 according to the firstembodiment has been described above. As described above, the informationacquiring unit 151 acquires the data destined for the second terminaldevice which is transmitted from the first terminal device to the basestation 100. The communication control unit 153 controls transmission ofthe data such that the data is transferred from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device without going through the gateway21. The communication control unit 153 controls transmission of theinformation related to the data (that is, the data-related information)to the gateway 21 or the specific node. Accordingly, for example, it ispossible to perform management related to transmission and reception ofdata while reducing the load on the core network. More specifically, forexample, since data is transferred without going through the gateway 21,the load on the gateway 21 from transfer of data is reduced. Further,since the data-related information is transmitted to the gateway 21 orthe specific node, it is also possible to perform management related totransmission and reception of data without going through the gateway 21.Furthermore, a delay related to data transfer can be reduced.

<1.3. Flow of Process>

Next, an example of a process according to the first embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

First Example

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of a schematicflow of a process according to the first embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the base station 100 (S301).

Then, the base station 100 performs the transmission decision process(S340). In other words, the base station 100 determines whether or notthe data is able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A tothe second terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sincethe base station 100 can perform communication with the second terminaldevice 30B, the data is determined to be able to be transferred withoutgoing through the gateway 21, and the data is decided to be directlytransmitted to the second terminal device 30B.

Thereafter, the base station 100 directly transmits the data to thesecond terminal device 30B (S303).

The base station 100 generates the information related to the data (thatis, the data-related information) (S305). Then, the base station 100transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21 (S307).

The base station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

Second Example

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic flow of the process according to the first embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the base station 100 (S321).

Then, the base station 100 performs the transmission decision process(S340). In other words, the base station 100 determines whether or notthe data is able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A tothe second terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sinceanother base station 10 capable of receiving the data from the basestation 100 without the data going through the gateway 21 can performcommunication with the second terminal device 30B, the data isdetermined to be able to be transferred without going through thegateway 21, and the data is decided to be transmitted to another basestation 10.

Thereafter, the base station 100 transmits the data to another basestation 10 (S323). Then, another base station 10 transmits the data tothe second terminal device 30B (S325).

Further, the base station 100 generates the information related to thedata (that is, the data-related information) (S327). Then, the basestation 100 transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21(S329).

The base station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

(Transmission Decision Process)

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a schematic flow ofthe transmission decision process according to the first embodiment.

The communication control unit 153 searches for the identificationinformation of the second terminal device 30B in the table stored in thestorage unit 140 (S341).

When there is no identification information of the second terminaldevice 30B in the table (NO in S343), the communication control unit 153determines that the data destined for the second terminal device 30B isnot able to be transferred without going through the gateway 21 (S345).Then, the communication control unit 153 decides to transmit the data tothe gateway 21 (S347). Then, the process ends.

On the other hand, when the identification information of the secondterminal device 30B is in the table (YES in S343), the communicationcontrol unit 153 determines that the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B is able to be transferred without going through thegateway 21 (S349).

Further, when the second terminal device 30B corresponds to another basestation 10 in the table (YES in S351), the communication control unit153 decides to transmit the data to another base station 10 (S353).Then, the process ends.

On the other hand, when the second terminal device 30B corresponds tothe base station 100 in the table (NO in S351), the communicationcontrol unit 153 decides to transmit the data directly to the secondterminal device 30B (S355). Then, the process ends.

<1.4. Modified Example>

Next, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 13 to 15.

In the example of the first embodiment, the base station 100 (thecommunication control unit 153) generates the data-related information.On the other hand, in the modified example of the first embodiment, thefirst terminal device generates the data-related information, andtransmits an integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated to the base station 100. Then, the basestation 100 separates the data and the data-related information from theintegrated packet.

Accordingly, for example, the load on the base station 100 can bereduced.

(Base Station 100: Information Acquiring Unit 151)

In the modified example of the first embodiment, the informationacquiring unit 151 acquires the integrated packet in which the data andthe data-related information are encapsulated, and separates the dataand the data-related information from the integrated packet.

Specifically, for example, the first terminal device generates thedata-related information, and generates the integrated packet in whichthe data and the data-related information are encapsulated. Then, thefirst terminal device transmits the integrated packet to the basestation 100. Then, the information acquiring unit 151 acquires theintegrated packet, and separates the data and the data-relatedinformation from the integrated packet. Accordingly, the informationacquiring unit 151 acquires the data and the data-related information. Aspecific example of the integrated packet will be described below withreference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of theintegrated packet. Referring to FIG. 12, an integrated packet 50 isillustrated. For example, the integrated packet 50 includes a firstheader, a second header, data, and the data-related information. Thefirst header is a header for transmission, and includes information suchas a transmission source address and a destination address. For example,the integrated packet 50 is an IP packet, and the first header is an IPheader. The second header is a header for encapsulation of the data andthe data-related information includes information about the data and thedata-related information. As an example, the second header includes thenumber of pieces of individual information included in the integratedpacket (for example, 2), and a type (for example, the data or thedata-related information) and a size (for example, the number of bytes)of each individual piece of information. It is possible to separate thedata and the data-related information based on the second header. Thesecond header may be included in the first header.

For example, the integrated packet includes predetermined indicationinformation indicating that the data and the data-related informationare encapsulated in the integrated packet. In this case, when the packet(that is, the integrated packet) including the predetermined indicationinformation is acquired, the information acquiring unit 151 separatesthe data and the data-related information from the packet. As anexample, the predetermined indication information is included in thesecond header illustrated in FIG. 12. For example, the load on the basestation 100 can be further reduced based on the predetermined indicationinformation.

(Base Station 100: Communication Control Unit 153)

(b) Transmission of Data-related Information

Technique of Acquiring Data-related Information

In the modified example of the first embodiment, since the informationacquiring unit 151 acquires the data-related information as describedabove, the communication control unit 153 does not generate thedata-related information.

(Specific Example of Transmission of Data and Data-related Information)

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example oftransmission of the data and the data-related information according tothe modified example of the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, thebase station 100, the gateway 21, the first terminal device 30A, and thesecond terminal device 30B are illustrated. The first terminal device30A transmits the integrated packet in which the data and thedata-related information are encapsulated to the base station 100. Then,the base station 100 separates the data and the data-related informationfrom the integrated packet. In this example, since the base station 100can perform communication with the second terminal device 30B, the basestation 100 directly transmits the data to the second terminal device30B. Further, the base station 100 transmits the data-relatedinformation to the gateway 21.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the base station 100 can performcommunication with the second terminal device 30B, but the modifiedexample of the first embodiment is not limited to the relevant example.For example, another base station capable of receiving the data from thebase station 10 without the data going through the gateway 21 canperform communication with the second terminal device 30B, and the basestation 100 may transmit the data to another base station.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the base station 100 transmitsthe data-related information to the gateway 21, but the modified exampleof the first embodiment is not limited to the relevant example. Forexample, the base station 100 may transmit the data-related informationto the specific node instead of the gateway 21.

(Flow of Process: First Example)

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thefirst embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A generates the information related to thedata destined for the second terminal device 30B (that is, thedata-related information) (S361). Then, the first terminal device 30Agenerates the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated (S363) and transmits the integrated packetto the base station 100 (S365).

Thereafter, when a predetermined indication is confirmed to be includedin the integrated packet, the base station 100 separates the data andthe data-related information from the integrated packet (S367).

The base station 100 performs the transmission decision process (S340).In other words, the base station 100 determines whether or not the datais able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A to thesecond terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sincethe base station 100 can perform communication with the second terminaldevice 30B, the data is determined to be able to be transferred withoutgoing through the gateway 21, and the data is decided to be directlytransmitted to the second terminal device 30B.

Thereafter, the base station 100 directly transmits the data to thesecond terminal device 30B (S369).

The base station 100 transmits the data-related information to thegateway 21 (S371).

The base station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

(Flow of Process: Second Example)

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic flow of the process according to the modified example of thefirst embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A generates the information related to thedata destined for the second terminal device 30B (that is, thedata-related information) (S381). Then, the first terminal device 30Agenerates the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated (S383) transmits the integrated packet tothe base station 100 (S385).

Thereafter, when a predetermined indication is confirmed to be includedin the integrated packet, the base station 100 separates the data andthe data-related information from the integrated packet (S387).

The base station 100 performs the transmission decision process (S340).In other words, the base station 100 determines whether or not the datais able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A to thesecond terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sinceanother base station 10 capable of receiving the data from the basestation 100 without the data going through the gateway 21 can performcommunication with the second terminal device 30B, the data isdetermined to be able to be transferred without going through thegateway 21, and the data is decided to be transmitted to another basestation 10.

Thereafter, the base station 100 transmits the data to another basestation 10 (S389). Then, another base station 10 transmits the data tothe second terminal device 30B (S391).

The base station 100 transmits the data-related information to thegateway 21 (S393).

The base station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

The modified example of the first embodiment has been described above.As the modified example of the first embodiment, the example in whichthe first terminal device generates the data-related information, andtransmits the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated has been described. As the example of thefirst embodiment, the example in which the base station 100 generatesthe data-related information has been described. However, the firstembodiment is not limited to this example. For example, the firstterminal device may generate the data-related information and transmitthe data-related information to the base station 100 separately from thedata.

«2. Second Embodiment»

Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 16 to 27.

<2.1. Configuration of Cellular System>

First, a schematic configuration of a cellular system 1-2 according tothe second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 16. FIG.16 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematicconfiguration of the cellular system 1-2 according to the secondembodiment Referring to FIG. 16, the cellular system 1-2 according tothe second embodiment includes a base station 10, a gateway 21, and anetwork device 200. The cellular system 1-2 is, for example, a systemthat conforms to LTE, LTE-Advanced, or a communication standardequivalent thereto.

The base station 10 is a base station of the cellular system 1-2 andfunctions as a node of a radio access network (RAN) of the cellularsystem 1-2. For example, the base station 10 performs wirelesscommunication with a terminal device located in a communication area(that is, a cell) of the base station 10. Specifically, for example, thebase station 10 transmits data and control information to a terminaldevice and receives data and control information from a terminal device.

The gateway 21 is a gateway of the cellular system 1-2 and functions asa node of a core network (CN) of the cellular system 1-1. For example,the gateway 21 performs data transfer in the cellular system 1-2. Forexample, the gateway 21 performs data transfer between the base stationsand performs data transfer between another gateway and the base station.Another gateway performs data transfer between the cellular system 1-2and the external network. As an example, the gateway 21 is a servinggateway (S-GW), and the other gateway is a packet data network (PDN)gateway (P-GW).

The network device 200 is a network device of the cellular system 1-2and functions as a node positioned between the radio access network(RAN) and the core network (CN) of the cellular system 1-2. For example,the network device 200 performs data transfer between the base station10 and the gateway 21 and performs data transfer between the basestations 10. More specifically, for example, the network device 200performs routing of data.

It will be appreciated that the cellular system 1-2 may include only onebase station 10 or include two or more base stations 10.

According to the second embodiment, the network device 200 transmits thedata so that the data destined for the second terminal device which istransmitted from the first terminal device to the base station 10 istransferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal devicewithout going through the gateway 21. The network device 200 transmitsthe information related to the data to the gateway 21 or the specificnode. The specific node is a node that receives the information relatedto other data transferred via the gateway 21 from the gateway 21.

<2.2. Configuration of Network Device>

Next, an example of a configuration of the network device 200 accordingto the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to20. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of aconfiguration of the network device 200 according to the secondembodiment. Referring to FIG. 17, the network device 200 includes acommunication unit 210, a storage unit 220, and a processing unit 230.

(Communication Unit 210)

The communication unit 210 performs communication with another node. Forexample, the communication unit 210 performs communication with the basestation 10. For example, the communication unit 210 performscommunication with the gateway 21.

(Storage Unit 220)

The storage unit 220 temporarily or permanently stores a program anddata for an operation of the network device 200).

(Processing Unit 230)

The processing unit 230 provides various functions of the network device200. The processing unit 230 includes an information acquiring unit 231and a communication control unit 233. The processing unit 230 mayfurther include any other component in addition to the above-mentionedcomponents. In other words, the processing unit 230 may also perform anoperation other than operations of the above-mentioned components.

(Information Acquiring Unit 231)

The information acquiring unit 231 acquires the data destined for thesecond terminal device which is transmitted from the first terminaldevice to the base station 10.

For example, the first terminal device transmits the data to the basestation 10. Then, the base station 10 receives the data, and transmitsthe data to the gateway 21. The network device 200 receives the data tobe transmitted to the gateway, and stores the data in the storage unit220. Thereafter, at any timing, the information acquiring unit 231acquires the data from the storage unit 220.

(Communication Control Unit 233)

(a) Transmission of Data

The communication control unit 233 controls transmission of the data(that is, the data destined for the second terminal device which istransmitted from the first terminal device to the base station 10).

Transfer of Data without Going Through Gateway 21

Particularly, in the second embodiment, the communication control unit233 controls transmission of the data such that the data is transferredfrom the first terminal device to the second terminal device withoutgoing through the gateway 21.

Condition

For example, when the condition for the transfer from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device is satisfied, the communicationcontrol unit 233 performs control of transmission of the data such thatthe data is transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through the gateway 21.

Regarding this point, there is no difference between the firstembodiment and the second embodiment except that the main entity in thefirst embodiment is the base station 100, and the main entity in thesecond embodiment is the network device 200. Thus, a duplicateddescription is omitted here.

Specific Example of Transmission

For example, when the base station 10 capable of receiving the data fromthe network device 200 without the data going through the gateway 21 canperform communication with the second terminal device, the networkdevice 200 transmits the data destined for the second terminal device tothe base station 10. The base station 10 may be the base station 10 thathas received the data. Alternatively, the base station 10 may be asecond base station 10B different from a first base station 10A that hasreceived the data.

Specific Example of Transmission Control

For example, when the base station 10 capable of receiving the data fromthe network device 200 without the data going through the gateway 21 canperform communication with the second terminal device, the communicationcontrol unit 153 generates a packet destined for the base station 10including the data destined for the second terminal device, and causesthe communication unit 210 to transmit the packet.

Transfer of Data Via the Gateway 21

It will be appreciated that the communication control unit 233 maycontrol transmission of the data such that the data is transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device via the gateway21.

Condition

For example, when the condition for the transfer from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device is not satisfied, the communicationcontrol unit 233 may control transmission of the data such that the datais transferred from the first terminal device to the second terminaldevice via the gateway 21.

Specific Example of Transmission

The network device 200 transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device to the gateway 21.

Specific Example of Transmission Control

The communication control unit 233 generates the packet destined for thegateway 21 including the data destined for the second terminal device,and causes the communication unit 210 to transmit the packet.

(b) Transmission of Data-related Information

As described above, for example, the communication control unit 233controls transmission of the data such that the data (that is, the datadestined for the second terminal device which is transmitted from thefirst terminal device to the base station 100) is transferred from thefirst terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway 21. In this case, the communication control unit 233controls transmission of the information related to the data (that is,the data-related information) to the gateway 21 or the specific node. Inother words, through control by the communication control unit 233, thenetwork device 200 transmits the data-related information to the gateway21 or the specific node.

Data Serving as Target

For example, the data-related information is information related to dataof packet units. Alternatively, the data-related information may beinformation related to data of session units. Regarding this point,there is no difference between the first embodiment and the secondembodiment. Thus, a duplicated description is omitted here.

Data-related Information

There is no difference in content of the data-related informationbetween the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Thus, aduplicated description is omitted here.

Technique of Acquiring Data-related Information

For example, the communication control unit 233 generates thedata-related information. Then, the communication control unit 233acquires the generated data-related information.

Accordingly, for example, the gateway 21 or the specific node canacquire the data-related information without adding a new function tothe terminal device, the base station, or the like.

Transmission Destination of Data-related Information

Gateway 21

For example, the communication control unit 233 controls transmission ofthe data-related information to the gateway 21. In other words, throughcontrol by the communication control unit 233, the network device 200transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21. Regarding thispoint, a specific example will be described below with reference toFIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the secondembodiment. Referring to FIG. 18, the base station 10, the gateway 21,the first terminal device 30A, the second terminal device 30B, and thenetwork device 200 are illustrated. The first terminal device 30Atransmits the data destined for the second terminal device 30B to thebase station 10. Then, the base station 10 transmits the data to thegateway 21, and the network device 200 receives the data. In thisexample, since the base station 10 can perform communication with thesecond terminal device 30B, the network device 200 transmits the data tothe base station 10. Then, the base station 10 transmits the data to thesecond terminal device 30B. The network device 200 transmits theinformation related to the data (that is, the data-related information)to the gateway 21.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the secondembodiment. Referring to FIG. 19, the first base station 10A, the secondbase station 10B, the gateway 21, the first terminal device 30A, thesecond terminal device 30B, and the network device 200 are illustrated.The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the first base station 10A. Then, the first basestation 10A transmits the data to the gateway 21, and the network device200 receives the data. In this example, since the second base station10B capable of receiving the data from the network device 200 withoutthe data going through the gateway 21 can perform communication with thesecond terminal device 30B, the network device 200 transmits the data tothe second base station 10B. Then, the second base station 10B transmitsthe data to the second terminal device 30B. The network device 200transmits the information related to the data (that is, the data-relatedinformation) to the gateway 21.

Accordingly, for example, the gateway 21 can acquire the informationrelated to the data transferred without going through the gateway 21.For this reason, the gateway 21 can transmit the information related toboth of the data transferred via the gateway 21 and the data transferredwithout going through the gateway 21 to the specific node (for example,the node having the PCRF or the like).

Specific Node

Alternatively, the communication control unit 233 may controltransmission of the data-related information to the specific node. Inother words, through control by the communication control unit 233, thenetwork device 200 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node. The specific node is a node that receives the informationrelated to other data transferred via the gateway 21 (that is, otherdata-related information) from the gateway 21. As an example, thespecific node is the node having the PCRF. Regarding this point, aspecific example will be described below with reference to FIG. 20.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example oftransmission of the data-related information according to the secondembodiment. Referring to FIG. 20, the network device 200, the gateway21, and the specific node 23 are illustrated. In this example, similarlyto the examples illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, data is transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway 21. Particularly, in this example, the networkdevice 200 transmits the information related to the data (that is, thedata-related information) to the specific node 23. The gateway 21transmits the information related to other data transferred via thegateway 21 (that is, other data-related information) to the specificnode 23.

Accordingly, for example, the specific node can acquire the informationrelated to the data transferred via the gateway 21 (that is, otherdata-related information) and the information related to the datatransferred without going through the gateway 21 (that is, thedata-related information).

Specific Example of Transmission Control

As described above, for example, the communication control unit 233controls transmission of the data-related information to the gateway 21.In this case, the communication control unit 233 generates the packetdestined for the gateway 21 including the data-related information, andcauses the communication unit 210 to transmit the packet.

Alternatively, the communication control unit 233 may controltransmission of the data-related information to the specific node asdescribed above. In this case, the communication control unit 233 maygenerate the packet destined for the specific node including thedata-related information and cause the communication unit 210 totransmit the packet.

The configuration of the network device 200 according to the secondembodiment has been described above. As described above, the informationacquiring unit 231 acquires the data destined for the second terminaldevice which is transmitted from the first terminal device to the basestation 100. The communication control unit 233 controls transmission ofthe data such that the data is transferred from the first terminaldevice to the second terminal device without going through the gateway21. The communication control unit 233 controls transmission of theinformation related to the data (that is, the data-related information)to the gateway 21 or the specific node. Accordingly, for example, it ispossible to perform management related to transmission and reception ofdata while reducing the load on the core network. More specifically, forexample, since data is transferred without going through the gateway 21,the load on the gateway 21 from transfer of data is reduced. Further,since the data-related information is transmitted to the gateway 21 orthe specific node, it is also possible to perform management related totransmission and reception of data without going through the gateway 21.Furthermore, a delay related to data transfer can be reduced.

<2.3. Flow of Process>

Next, an example of a process according to the second embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23.

First Example

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the second embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the base station 10 (S401).

Then, the base station 10 transmits the data to the gateway 21, and thenetwork device 200 receives the data (S403).

Then, the network device 200 performs the transmission decision process(S440). In other words, the network device 200 determines whether or notthe data is able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A tothe second terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sincethe base station 10 can perform communication with the second terminaldevice 30B, the data is determined to be able to be transferred withoutgoing through the gateway 21, and the data is decided to be transmittedto the base station 10.

Thereafter, the network device 200 transmits the data to the basestation 10 (S405). Then, the base station 10 transmits the data to thesecond terminal device 30B (S407).

The network device 200 generates the information related to the data(that is, the data-related information) (S409). Then, the network device200 transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21 (S411).

The network device 200 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

Second Example

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic flow of the process according to the second embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the first base station 10A (S421).

Then, the first base station 10A transmits the data to the gateway 21,and the network device 200 receives the data (S403).

Then, the network device 200 performs the transmission decision process(S440). In other words, the network device 200 determines whether or notthe data is able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A tothe second terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sincethe second base station 10B can perform communication with the secondterminal device 30B, the data is determined to be able to be transferredwithout going through the gateway 21, and the data is decided to betransmitted to the second base station 10B.

Thereafter, the network device 200 transmits the data to the second basestation 10B (S425). Then, the second base station 10B transmits the datato the second terminal device 30B (S427).

The network device 200 generates the information related to the data(that is, the data-related information) (S429). Then, the network device200 transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21 (S431).

The network device 200 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

(Transmission Decision Process)

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a schematic flow of atransmission decision process according to the second embodiment.

The communication control unit 233 searches for the identificationinformation of the second terminal device 30B in the table stored in thestorage unit 220 (S441).

When there is no identification information of the second terminaldevice 30B in the table (NO in S443), the communication control unit 233determines that the data destined for the second terminal device 30B isnot able to be transferred without going through the gateway 21 (S445).Then, the communication control unit 233 decides to transmit the data tothe gateway 21 (S447). Then, the process ends.

On the other hand, when the identification information of the secondterminal device 30B is in the table (YES in S443), the communicationcontrol unit 233 determines that the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B is able to be transferred without going through thegateway 21 (S449). Then, the communication control unit 233 decides totransmit the data to the base station 10 corresponding to the secondterminal device 30B in the table (S451). Then, the process ends.

<2.4. Modified Example>

Next, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 24 to 27.

In the example of the second embodiment, the network device 200 (thecommunication control unit 233) generates the data-related information.On the other hand, in the modified example of the second embodiment, thefirst terminal device or the base station 10 generates the data-relatedinformation, and transmits the integrated packet in which the data andthe data-related information are encapsulated. Then, the network device200 separates the data and the data-related information from theintegrated packet.

Accordingly, for example, the load on the network device 200 can bereduced.

(Network Device 200: Information Acquiring Unit 231)

In the modified example of the first embodiment, the informationacquiring unit 231 acquires the integrated packet in which the data andthe data-related information are encapsulated, and separates the dataand the data-related information from the integrated packet.

Specifically, for example, the first terminal device generates thedata-related information, and generates the integrated packet in whichthe data and the data-related information are encapsulated. Then, thefirst terminal device transmits the integrated packet to the basestation 10. Thereafter, the base station 10 transmits the integratedpacket to the gateway 21, and the network device 200 receives theintegrated packet. Then, the information acquiring unit 231 acquires theintegrated packet, and separates the data and the data-relatedinformation from the integrated packet. Accordingly, the informationacquiring unit 231 acquires the data and the data-related information.

Rather than the first terminal device, the base station 10 that receivesthe data from the first terminal device may generate the data-relatedinformation and generate the integrated packet in which the data and thedata-related information are encapsulated. Then, the base station 10 maytransmit the integrated packet to the gateway 21, and the network device200 may receive the integrated packet.

For example, the integrated packet includes predetermined indicationinformation indicating that the data and the data-related informationare encapsulated in the integrated packet. In this case, when the packet(that is, the integrated packet) including the predetermined indicationinformation is acquired, the information acquiring unit 231 separatesthe data and the data-related information from the packet. Accordingly,for example, the load on the network device 200 can be further reduced.

(Network Device 200: Communication Control Unit 233)

(b) Transmission of Data-related Information

Technique of Acquiring Data-Related Information

In the modified example of the second embodiment, since the informationacquiring unit 231 acquires the data-related information as describedabove, the communication control unit 233 does not generate thedata-related information.

(Specific Example of Transmission of Data and Data-related Information)

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example oftransmission of the data and the data-related information according tothe modified example of the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 24, thefirst base station 10A, the second base station 10B, the gateway 21, thefirst terminal device 30A, the second terminal device 30B, and thenetwork device 200 are illustrated. The first terminal device 30Atransmits the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated to the first base station 10A. Then, thefirst base station 10A transmits the integrated packet to the gateway21, and the network device 200 receives the integrated packet. Then, thenetwork device 200 separates the data and the data-related informationfrom the integrated packet. In this example, since the second basestation 10B can perform communication with the second terminal device30B, the network device 200 transmits the data to the second basestation 10B. Then, the second base station 10B transmits the data to thesecond terminal device 30B. The network device 200 transmits thedata-related information to the gateway 21.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example oftransmission of the data and the data-related information according tothe modified example of the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 25, thefirst base station 10A, the second base station 10B, the gateway 21, thefirst terminal device 30A, the second terminal device 30B, and thenetwork device 200 are illustrated. The first terminal device 30Atransmits the data to the first base station 10A. Then, the first basestation 10A generates the data-related information, and transmits theintegrated packet in which the data and the data-related information areencapsulated to the gateway 21, and the network device 200 receives theintegrated packet. Then, the network device 200 separates the data andthe data-related information from the integrated packet. In thisexample, since the second base station 10B can perform communicationwith the second terminal device 30B, the network device 200 transmitsthe data to the second base station 10B. Then, the second base station10B transmits the data to the second terminal device 30B. The networkdevice 200 transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the second base station10B can perform communication with the second terminal device 30B, butthe modified example of the second embodiment is not limited to therelevant example. For example, the first base station 10A can performcommunication with the second terminal device 30B, and the networkdevice 200 may transmit the data to the first base station 10A.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the network device 200transmits the data-related information to the gateway 21, but themodified example of the second embodiment is not limited to the relevantexample. For example, the network device 200 may transmit thedata-related information to the specific node instead of the gateway 21.

(Flow of Process: First Example)

FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first example of aschematic flow of a process according to the modified example of thesecond embodiment.

The first terminal device 30A generates the information related to thedata destined for the second terminal device 30B (that is, thedata-related information) (S461). Then, the first terminal device 30Agenerates the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated (S463), and transmits the integrated packetto the first base station 10A (S465).

Then, the first base station 10A transmits the integrated packet to thegateway 21, and the network device 200 receives the integrated packet(S467).

Thereafter, when a predetermined indication is confirmed to be includedin the integrated packet, the network device 200 separates the data andthe data-related information from the integrated packet (S469).

The network device 200 performs the transmission decision process(S440). In other words, the network device 200 determines whether or notthe data is able to be transferred from the first terminal device 30A tothe second terminal device 30B without going through the gateway 21 anddecides a node to which the data is transmitted. In this example, sincethe second base station 10B capable of receiving the data from thenetwork device 200 without the data going through the gateway 21 canperform communication with the second terminal device 30B, the data isdetermined to be able to be transferred without going through thegateway 21, and the data is decided to be transmitted to the second basestation 10B.

Thereafter, the network device 200 transmits the data to the second basestation 10B (S471). Then, the second base station 10B transmits the datato the second terminal device 30B (S473).

The network device 200 transmits the data-related information to thegateway 21 (S475).

The base station 100 may transmit the data-related information to thespecific node instead of the gateway 21.

The second terminal device 30B may perform communication with the firstbase station 10A, and in this case, the data may be transmitted from thenetwork device 200 to the first base station 10A and then transmittedfrom the first base station 10A to the second terminal device 30B.

(Flow of Process: Second Example)

FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second example of theschematic flow of the process according to the modified example of thesecond embodiment. A description of steps S489 to S495 in the secondexample is the same as the description of steps S469 to S475 in thefirst example described above with reference to FIG. 26. Thus, onlysteps S481 to S487 will be described here.

The first terminal device 30A transmits the data destined for the secondterminal device 30B to the first base station 10A (S481).

Then, the first base station 10A generates the information related tothe data destined for the second terminal device 30B (that is, thedata-related information) (S483). Then, the first base station 10Agenerates the integrated packet in which the data and the data-relatedinformation are encapsulated (S485).

Then, the first base station 10A transmits the integrated packet to thegateway 21, and the network device 200 receives the integrated packet(S487).

The modified example of the second embodiment has been described above.As the modified example of the second embodiment, the example in whichthe first terminal device or the base station 10 generates thedata-related information, and transmits the integrated packet in whichthe data and the data-related information are encapsulated has beendescribed. As an example of the second embodiment, the example in whichthe network device 200 generates the data-related information has beendescribed. However, the second embodiment is not limited to theseexamples. For example, the first terminal device or the base station 10may generate the data-related information and transmit the data-relatedinformation separately from the data.

«3. Third Embodiment»

Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 28 to 36.

<3.1. Configuration of Cellular System>

First, a schematic configuration of a cellular system 1-3 according tothe third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 28. FIG.28 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematicconfiguration of the cellular system 1-3 according to the thirdembodiment. Referring to FIG. 28, the cellular system 1-3 according tothe third embodiment includes a base station 51, a femtocell basestation 53, a terminal device 55, a router 57, an MME 61, an S-GW 63, aPCRF 65, a P-GW 67, an HeNB-GW 69, and a network controller 500. Thecellular system 1-3 is, for example, a system that conforms to LTE,LTE-Advanced. or a communication standard equivalent thereto.

In the third embodiment, the network controller 500 updates a transferrule for a node based on mobility information related to mobility of thenode or configuration/operation information related to aconfiguration/operation of the node, and notifies the node of theupdated transfer rule. The transfer rule is, for example, a table fortransfer.

The base station 51 may be the base station 100 according to the firstembodiment. In this case, the transfer rule for the base station 51 mayinclude the table described in the first embodiment (the table used fordetermining whether or not the data is able to be transferred withoutgoing through the gateway 21). Alternatively, the router 57A and therouter 57B may be the network device 200 according to the secondembodiment. In this case, the transfer rule for the router 57A and therouter 57B may include the table in the second embodiment.

It is possible to intensively control, for example, the transfer in thecellular system through the network controller 500.

<3.2. Configuration of Network Controller>

Next, an example of a configuration of the network controller 500according to the third embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 29 to 32. FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating an example of aconfiguration of the network controller 500 according to the thirdembodiment. Referring to FIG. 29, the network controller 500 includes acommunication unit 530, a storage unit 520, and a processing unit 530.

(Communication Unit 510)

The communication unit 510 performs communication with another node. Forexample, the communication unit 510 performs communication with a basestation (for example, the base station 51 and the femtocell base station53), a router (for example, the router 57), a core network node (the MME61, the S-GW 63, the PCRF 65, and the P-GW 67), and other nodes (forexample, the HeNB-GW 69).

(Storage Unit 520)

The storage unit 520 temporarily or permanently stores a program anddata for an operation of the network controller 500.

(Processing Unit 530)

The processing unit 530 provides various functions of the networkcontroller 500. The processing unit 530 includes an informationacquiring unit 531 and a control unit 533. The processing unit 530 mayfurther include any other component in addition to the above-mentionedcomponents. In other words, the processing unit 530 may also perform anoperation other than operations of the above-mentioned components.

(Information Acquiring Unit 531)

(a) Acquisition of Mobility Information

For example, the information acquiring unit 531 acquires the mobilityinformation related to the mobility of the node.

For example, the MME 61 provides the network controller 500 with themobility information. Then, the information acquiring unit 531 acquiresthe mobility information. The MME 61 may provide the mobilityinformation voluntarily (for example, at a predetermined timing) or mayprovide the mobility information according to a request from the networkcontroller 500).

For example, the mobility information is a change of a serving cell byhandover, a change of a tracking area, a change of an on/off state of abase station, a change of a status (for example, normal, master, slave,or the like) of a terminal device, a change of an RRC status(RRC_Connected or RRC_Idle), a period of time taken until a change oftarget information (for example, a cell staying period of time, a periodof time in which a node is in an on/off state, or the like) occurs, or acombination thereof. As a specific example, the mobility information isthe following information.

TABLE 1 Node Before After Time required Target Node Category ChangeChange Change for change Node a Category Serving cell Cell ID xxx CellID yyy  60 sec a-b-c Node b Category Change On Off 180 sec d-e-f On/OffNode c Category Change UE Normal UE Master UE 300 sec g-h-i status Noded Category Change TA TA vvv TA www 600 sec j-k-l Node e Category ChangeRRC RRC Idle RRC Connect 3600 sec  m-n-o status(b) Acquisition of configuration/operation information

For example, the information acquiring unit 531 acquiresconfiguration/operation information of the node related to theconfiguration/operation of the node.

The configuration/operation information is provided to the networkcontroller 500, for example, when a configuration of a node is changed,an operation of a node is temporarily changed by network maintenance orthe like when it is desired to change a rule of each application type,or the like. For example, the configuration/operation information may beprovided from another node to the network controller 500 or may bemanually provided to the network controller 500 by an operator.

(Control Unit 533)

(a) Creation/Update of Transfer Rule

(a-1) Creation of Transfer Rule

For example, the control unit 533 creates the transfer rule for thenode. For example, when the transfer rule for the node is not created,the control unit 533 creates the transfer rule for the node. The controlunit 533 may create the transfer rule using an existing rule.

(a-2) Update of Transfer Rule

For example, the control unit 533 updates the transfer rule for thenode.

Update Based on Mobility Information

For example, the control unit 533 updates the transfer rule for the nodebased on the mobility information related to the mobility of the node.

Specifically, for example, the control unit 533 determines whether ornot there is a node whose connection destination has been changed basedon the mobility information. When there is a node whose connectiondestination has been changed, the control unit 533 specifies thetransfer rule (of another node) that is influenced by the change of theconnection destination of the node, and updates the specified transferrule. An example of the update of the transfer rule will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 30 to 32.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first example of theupdate of the transfer rule. Referring to FIG. 30, for example, due tothe handover of the terminal device 55, the connection destination ofthe terminal device 55 changes from a base station 51A to a base station51B. In this case, the control unit 533 specifies the transfer rules ofthe base station 51A, the router 57A, and the base station 51B as thetransfer rule influenced by the change of the connection destination ofthe terminal device 55, and updates the transfer rules.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second example of theupdate of the transfer rule. Referring to FIG. 31, for example, due tothe handover of the terminal device 55, the connection destination ofthe terminal device 55 changes from the base station 51B to a basestation 51C. In this case, the control unit 533 specifies the transferrules of the base station 51B, the router 57A, the MME 61, the router57B, and the base station 51C as the transfer rule influenced by thechange of the connection destination of the terminal device 55, andupdates the transfer rules.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third example of theupdate of the transfer rule. Referring to FIG. 32, for example, due tothe handover of the terminal device 55, the connection destination ofthe terminal device 55 changes from the base station 51C to thefemtocell base station 53. In this case, the control unit 533 specifiesthe transfer rules of the base station 51C, the router 57B, the MME 61,the S-GW 63, the router 57C, the P-GW 67, the router 57D, the HeNB-GW69, an external network 70 and the femtocell base station 53 as thetransfer rule influenced by the change of the connection destination ofthe terminal device 55, and updates at least several transfer rulesamong the transfer rules. For example, at least several transfer rulesare the transfer rule managed by the network controller 500 and do notinclude transfer rules that are not managed by the network controller500 (for example, the transfer rule of the external network 70).

As described above, for example, the control unit 533 understands anetwork as a tree structure having a first node as a root, understands asecond node whose connection destination is changed as a leaf of thetree structure, and specifies a transfer rule of a node positioned on apath from the root to the leaf as a transfer rule influenced by thechange of the connection destination of the second node. The first node(that is, the root of the tree structure) is, for example, the MME 61,the S-GW 63, the P-GW 67, or the like.

Update Based on Configuration/Operation Information

The control unit 533 may update the transfer rule for the node based onthe configuration/operation information related to theconfiguration/operation of the node.

The network controller 500 may cause a current transfer rule of eachnode included in the cellular system 1-3 to be held in the storage unit520. Then, the control unit 533 may update the held transfer rules eachtime the transfer rule is created or updated.

(b) Notification of Transfer Rule

The control unit 533 notifies the node of the transfer rule for thenode.

For example, the control unit 533 may notify the node of the entire newtransfer rule (that is, a created transfer rule or an updated transferrule) or may notify the node of a difference between a new rule and anold rule. As a specific example, the difference is the followinginformation.

TABLE 2 Destination Target Node to be Before After Packet changed ChangeChange Change Data Node a forwarding Node aa Node ad destination node 1Data Node b forwarding Node bb N/A destination node 3 Data Related Nodec forwarding Node cb Node cd Information destination node 2 Data RelatedNode c forwarding Node cc N/A Information destination node 3

For example, the node that is notified of the transfer rule applies thetransfer rule. The node may give a notification indicating that thetransfer rule has been applied to the network controller 500.

<3.3. Flow of Process>

Next, an example of a process according to the third embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 33 to 36.

(Overall Process)

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a schematicflow of a process according to the third embodiment.

The MME 61 provides the mobility information related to the mobility ofthe node to the network controller 500 (S601). Alternatively, any onenode provides the configuration/operation information related to theconfiguration/configuration of the node to the network controller 500(S601).

The network controller 500 performs a transfer rule creation/updateprocess (S610). In other words, the network controller 500 creates orupdates the transfer rule for the node. Then, the network controller 500notifies the node of the transfer rule (S603).

Thereafter, the node applies the transfer rule (S605).

(Transfer Rule Creation/Update Process)

(a) First Example

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a schematic flowof the transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment. The first example is an example of a process of creating thetransfer rule.

The information acquiring unit 531 acquires the mobility informationrelated to the mobility of the node (S611).

The control unit 533 determines whether or not there is a node in whichno transfer rule is created (S613). When there is no node in which notransfer rule is created (NO in S613), the process ends.

When there is a node in which no transfer rule is created (YES in S613),the control unit 533 creates the transfer rule for the node (S615).Then, the process ends.

(b) Second Example

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of the schematicflow of the transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment. The second example is an example of a process of updatingthe transfer rule based on the mobility information.

The information acquiring unit 531 acquires the mobility informationrelated to the mobility of the node (S621).

The control unit 533 determines whether or not there is a node whoseconnection destination has been changed (S623). When there is no nodewhose connection destination has been changed (NO in S623), the processends.

When there is a node whose connection destination has been changed (YESin S623), the control unit 533 specifies the transfer rule influenced bythe change of the connection destination of the node (S625), and updatesthe specified transfer rule (S627). Then, the process ends.

(c) Third Example

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of the schematicflow of the transfer rule creation/update process according to the thirdembodiment. The third example is an example of a process of updating thetransfer rule based on the configuration/operation information.

The information acquiring unit 531 acquires the configuration/operationinformation related to the configuration/operation of the node (S641).

The control unit 533 determines whether or not there is a node whoseconfiguration/operation has been changed (or a node whoseconfiguration/operation is changed) (S643). When there is no node whoseconfiguration/operation has been changed (NO in S643), the process ends.

When there is a node whose configuration/operation has been changed (YESin S643), the control unit 533 specifies the transfer rule influenced bythe change of the configuration/operation of the node (S645), andupdates the specified transfer rule (S647). Then, the process ends.

The third embodiment has been described above. In the above example, theexample in which the MME 61 and the network controller 500 areimplemented as different apparatuses has been described, but the thirdembodiment is not limited to the relevant example. For example, the MME61 and the network controller 500 may be implemented in the sameapparatus. Accordingly, the transfer rule can be more efficientlyupdated.

«4. Application Examples»

The technology according to the present disclosure is applicable to avariety of products. The network controller 500 may be implemented asany type of server such as tower servers, rack servers, and bladeservers. At least a part of components of the network controller 500 maybe implemented in a module (e.g. integrated circuit module that includesa single die, or card or blade that is inserted into a slot of a bladeserver) mounted on a server.

The base station 100 may also be implemented, for example, as any typeof evolved Node B (eNB) such as macro eNBs and small eNBs. Small eNBsmay cover smaller cells than the macrocells of pico eNBs, micro eNBs, orhome (femt) eNBs. Instead, the base station 100 may be implemented asanother type of base station such as Nodes B or base transceiverstations (BTSs). The base station 100 may include the main apparatus(which is also referred to as base station device) that controlswireless communication and one or more remote radio heads (RRHs) thatare disposed at different locations from that of the main apparatus.Further, various types of terminals such as a smart phone, a tabletpersonal computer (PC), a laptop PC, and a portable/dongle type mobilerouter may operate as the base station 100 by executing a base stationfunction temporarily or semipermanently. Further, at least somecomponents of the base station 100 may be implemented in a base stationdevice or a module for a base station device.

The network device 200 may be implemented as any one type of router suchas a core router, a center router, an edge router, or a broadbandrouter. The network device 200 may be implemented as a server having avirtual network device function (for example, a virtual routerfunction). Further, at least some components of the network device 200may be implemented in a module (for example, an integrated circuitmodule configured with one die) mounted on the router or the server.

<4.1. Application Examples for Network Controller>

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a server 700 to which the technology according to thepresent disclosure may be applied. The server 700 includes a processor701, a memory 702, a storage 703, a network interface 704, and a bus706.

The processor 701 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)or a digital signal processor (DSP), and controls various functions ofthe server 700. The memory 702 includes a random access memory (RAM) anda read only memory (ROM), and stores a program executed by the processor701 and data. The storage 703 can include a storage medium such assemiconductor memories and hard disks.

The network interface 704 is a wired communication interface forconnecting the server 700 to a wired communication network 705. Thewired communication network 705 may be a core network such as evolvedpacket cores (EPCs), or a packet data network (PDN) such as theInternet.

The bus 706 connects the processor 701, the memory 702, the storage 703,and the network interface 704 to each other. The bus 706 may include twoor more buses each having different speed (e.g. high speed bus and lowspeed bus).

In the server 700 illustrated in FIG. 37, the information acquiring unit531 and the control unit 533 described above with reference to FIG. 29may be mounted in the processor 701. As an example, a program causing aprocessor to function as the information acquiring unit 531 and thecontrol unit 533 (that is, a program causing a processor to perform theoperations of the information acquiring unit 531 and the control unit533) may be installed in the server 700, and the processor 701 mayexecute the program. As another example, the server 700 may be equippedwith a module including the processor 701 and the memory 702, and theinformation acquiring unit 531 and the control unit 533 may be mountedin the module. In this case, the module may store the program causingthe processor to function as the information acquiring unit 531 and thecontrol unit 533 in the memory 702, and the program may be executed bythe processor 701. As described above, the server 700 or the module maybe provided as an apparatus equipped with the information acquiring unit531 and the control unit 533, and the program causing the processor tofunction as OO, the information acquiring unit 531, and the control unit533 may be provided. A recording medium having the program recordedtherein may be provided.

<4.2. Application Examples for Base Station>

First Application Example

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a first example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB to which the technology according to the presentdisclosure may be applied. An eNB 800 includes one or more antennas 810and a base station device 820. Each antenna 810 and the base stationdevice 820 may be connected to each other via an RF cable.

Each of the antennas 810 includes a single or a plurality of antennaelements (e.g. a plurality of antenna elements constituting a MIMOantenna) and is used for the base station device 820 to transmit andreceive a wireless signal. The eNB 800 may include the plurality of theantennas 810 as illustrated in FIG. 38, and the plurality of antennas810 may, for example, correspond to a plurality of frequency bands usedby the eNB 800. It should be noted that while FIG. 38 illustrates anexample in which the eNB 800 includes the plurality of antennas 810, theeNB 800 may include the single antenna 810.

The base station device 820 includes a controller 821, a memory 822, anetwork interface 823, and a wireless communication interface 825.

The controller 821 may be, for example, a CPU or a DSP, and operatesvarious functions of an upper layer of the base station device 820. Forexample, the controller 821 generates a data packet from data in asignal processed by the wireless communication interface 825, andtransfers the generated packet via the network interface 823. Thecontroller 821 may generate a bundled packet by bundling data from aplurality of base band processors to transfer the generated bundledpacket. The controller 821 may also have a logical function ofperforming control such as radio resource control, radio bearer control,mobility management, admission control, and scheduling. The control maybe performed in cooperation with a surrounding eNB or a core network.The memory 822 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program executedby the controller 821 and a variety of control data (such as, forexample, terminal list, transmission power data, and scheduling data).

The network interface 823 is a communication interface for connectingthe base station device 820 to the core network 824. The controller 821may communicate with a core network node or another eNB via the networkinterface 823. In this case, the controller 821 may be mutuallyconnected to the eNB 800 and a core network node or another eNB througha logical interface (e.g. S1 interface or X2 interface). The networkinterface 823 may be a wired communication interface or a wirelesscommunication interface for wireless backhaul. When the networkinterface 823 is a wireless communication interface, the networkinterface 823 may use a higher frequency band for wireless communicationthan a frequency band used by the wireless communication interface 825.

The wireless communication interface 825 supports a cellularcommunication system such as long term evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced,and provides wireless connection to a terminal located within the cellof the eNB 800 via the antenna 810. The wireless communication interface825 may typically include a base band (BB) processor 826 and an RFcircuit 827. The BB processor 826 may, for example, performencoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation, multiplexing/demultiplexing,and the like, and performs a variety of signal processing on each layer(e.g. L1, medium access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), andpacket data convergence protocol (PDCP)). The BB processor 826 may havepart or all of the logical functions as discussed above instead of thecontroller 821. The BB processor 826 may be a module including a memoryhaving a communication control program stored therein, a processor toexecute the program, and a related circuit, and the function of the BBprocessor 826 may be changeable by updating the program. The module maybe a card or blade to be inserted into a slot of the base station device820, or a chip mounted on the card or the blade. Meanwhile, the RFcircuit 827 may include a mixer, a filter, an amplifier, and the like,and transmits and receives a wireless signal via the antenna 810.

The wireless communication interface 825 may include a plurality of theBB processors 826 as illustrated in FIG. 38, and the plurality of BBprocessors 826 may, for example, correspond to a plurality of frequencybands used by the eNB 800. The wireless communication interface 825 mayalso include a plurality of the RF circuits 827, as illustrated in FIG.38, and the plurality of RF circuits 827 may, for example, correspond toa plurality of antenna elements. FIG. 38 illustrates an example in whichthe wireless communication interface 825 includes the plurality of BBprocessors 826 and the plurality of RF circuits 827, but the wirelesscommunication interface 825 may include the single BB processor 826 orthe single RF circuit 827.

In the eNB 800 illustrated in FIG. 38, the information acquiring unit151 and the communication control unit 153 described above withreference to FIG. 2 may be mounted in the controller 821. Alternatively,at least some of the components may be mounted in the wirelesscommunication interface 825. As an example, the eNB 800 may be equippedwith a module including all or a part (for example, the BB processor826) of the wireless communication interface 825 and/or the controller821, and the information acquiring unit 151 and the communicationcontrol unit 153 may be mounted in the module. In this case, the modulemay store a program causing a processor to function as the informationacquiring unit 151 and the communication control unit 153 (that is, aprogram causing a processor to perform the operations of the informationacquiring unit 151 and the communication control unit 153) and performthe program. As another example, the program causing the processor tofunction as the information acquiring unit 151 and the communicationcontrol unit 153 may be installed in the eNB 800, and the wirelesscommunication interface 825 (for example, the BB processor 826) and/orthe controller 821 may execute the program. As described above, the eNB800, the base station device 820, or the module may be provided as anapparatus equipped with the information acquiring unit 151 and thecommunication control unit 153, and the program causing the processor tofunction as the information acquiring unit 151 and the communicationcontrol unit 153 may be provided. A recording medium having the programrecorded therein may be provided.

In the eNB 800 illustrated in FIG. 38, the wireless communication unit320 described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be mounted in thewireless communication interface 825 (for example, the RF circuit 827).The antenna unit 110 may be mounted in the antenna 810. The networkcommunication unit 130 may be mounted in the controller 821 and/or thenetwork interface 823.

Second Application Example

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a second example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB to which the technology according to the presentdisclosure may be applied. An eNB 830 includes one or more antennas 840,a base station device 850, and an RRH 860. Each of the antennas 840 andthe RRH 860 may be connected to each other via an RF cable. The basestation device 850 and the RRH 860 may be connected to each other by ahigh speed line such as optical fiber cables.

Each of the antennas 840 includes a single or a plurality of antennaelements (e.g. antenna elements constituting a MIMO antenna), and isused for the RRH 860 to transmit and receive a wireless signal. The eNB830 may include a plurality of the antennas 840 as illustrated in FIG.39, and the plurality of antennas 840 may, for example, correspond to aplurality of frequency bands used by the eNB 830. FIG. 39 illustrates anexample in which the eNB 830 includes the plurality of antennas 840, butthe eNB 830 may include the single antenna 840.

The base station device 850 includes a controller 851, a memory 852, anetwork interface 853, a wireless communication interface 855, and aconnection interface 857. The controller 851, the memory 852, and thenetwork interface 853 are the same as the controller 821, the memory822, and the network interface 823 described with reference to FIG. 38.

The wireless communication interface 855 supports a cellularcommunication system such as LTE and LTE-Advanced, and provides wirelessconnection to a terminal located in a sector corresponding to the RRH860 via the RRH 860 and the antenna 840. The wireless communicationinterface 855 may typically include a BB processor 856. The BB processor856 is the same as the BB processor 826 described with reference to FIG.38 except that the BB processor 856 is connected to an RF circuit 864 ofthe RRH 860 via the connection interface 857. The wireless communicationinterface 855 may include a plurality of the BB processors 856, asillustrated in FIG. 39, and the plurality of BB processors 856 may, forexample, correspond to a plurality of frequency bands used by the eNB830 respectively. FIG. 39 illustrates an example in which the wirelesscommunication interface 855 includes the plurality of BB processors 856,but the wireless communication interface 855 may include the single BBprocessor 856.

The connection interface 857 is an interface for connecting the basestation device 850 (wireless communication interface 855) to the RRH860. The connection interface 857 may be a communication module forcommunication on the high speed line which connects the base stationdevice 850 (wireless communication interface 855) to the RRH 860.

The RRH 860 includes a connection interface 861 and a wirelesscommunication interface 863.

The connection interface 861 is an interface for connecting the RRH 860(wireless communication interface 863) to the base station device 850.The connection interface 861 may be a communication module forcommunication on the high speed line.

The wireless communication interface 863 transmits and receives awireless signal via the antenna 840. The wireless communicationinterface 863 may typically include the RF circuit 864. The RF circuit864 may include a mixer, a filter, an amplifier and the like, andtransmits and receives a wireless signal via the antenna 840. Thewireless communication interface 863 may include a plurality of the RFcircuits 864 as illustrated in FIG. 39, and the plurality of RF circuits864 may, for example, correspond to a plurality of antenna elements.FIG. 39 illustrates an example in which the wireless communicationinterface 863 includes the plurality of RF circuits 864, but thewireless communication interface 863 may include the single RF circuit864.

In the eNB 830 illustrated in FIG. 39, the information acquiring unit151 and the communication control unit 153 described above withreference to FIG. 2 may be mounted in the controller 851. Alternatively,at least some of the components may be mounted in the wirelesscommunication interface 855 and/or the wireless communication interface863. As an example, the eNB 830 may be equipped with a module includingall or a part (for example, the BB processor 856) of the wirelesscommunication interface 855 and/or the controller 851, and theinformation acquiring unit 151 and the communication control unit 153may be mounted in the module. In this case, the module may store aprogram causing a processor to function as the information acquiringunit 151 and the communication control unit 153 (that is, a programcausing a processor to perform the operations of the informationacquiring unit 151 and the communication control unit 153) and performthe program. As another example, the program causing the processor tofunction as the information acquiring unit 151 and the communicationcontrol unit 153 may be installed in the eNB 830, and the wirelesscommunication interface 855 (for example, the BB processor 856) and/orthe controller 851 may execute the program. As described above, the eNB830, the base station device 850, or the module may be provided as anapparatus equipped with the information acquiring unit 151 and thecommunication control unit 153, and the program causing the processor tofunction as the information acquiring unit 151 and the communicationcontrol unit 153 may be provided. A recording medium having the programrecorded therein may be provided.

In the eNB 830 illustrated in FIG. 39, the wireless communication unit120 described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be mounted in thewireless communication interface 863 (for example, the RF circuit 864).The antenna unit 110 may be mounted in the antenna 840. The networkcommunication unit 130 may be mounted in the controller 851 and/or thenetwork interface 853.

<4.3. Application Examples for Network Device>

FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematicconfiguration of a router 900 to which the technology according to thepresent disclosure is applicable. The router 900 includes a controller901, a memory 902, an input device 904, a display device 905, and anetwork interface 907.

The controller 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), and operates functions (for example, routing,filtering, and the like) of an IP layer of the router 900. Thecontroller 901 may further operate functions of a layer higher than theIP layer. The memory 952 includes a RAM and a ROM and stores a programexecuted by the controller 951 and various control data (for example, arouting table, a log, and the like).

The input device 904 includes, for example, a button, a switch, and thelike and receives an operation from the user. The display device 905includes an LED lamp or the like, and displays an operation status ofthe router 900.

The network interface 907 is a wire communication interface that enablesthe router 900 to be connected with the wire communication network 908.The network interface 907 may include a plurality of connectionterminals. The wire communication network 908 may be a LAN such asEthernet (a registered trademark) or a Wide Area Network (WAN).

In the router 900 illustrated in FIG. 40, the information acquiring unit231 and the communication control unit 233 described above withreference to FIG. 17 may be mounted in the controller 901. As anexample, the router 900 may be quipped with a module including thecontroller 901 (and the memory 902), and the information acquiring unit231 and the communication control unit 233 may be mounted in the module.In this case, the module may store a program causing a processor tofunction as the information acquiring unit 231 and the communicationcontrol unit 233 (that is, a program causing a processor to perform theoperations of the information acquiring unit 231 and the communicationcontrol unit 233) and execute the program. As another example, theprogram causing the processor to function as the information acquiringunit 231 and the communication control unit 233 may be installed in therouter 900, and the controller 901 may execute the program. As describedabove, the router 900 or the module may be provided as an apparatusequipped with the information acquiring unit 231 and the communicationcontrol unit 233, and the program causing the processor to function asthe information acquiring unit 231 and the communication control unit233 may be provided. A recording medium having the program recordedtherein may be provided.

«5. Conclusion»

The apparatuses and the processes according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1to 40. An apparatuses according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes an information acquiring unit that acquire datadestined for a second terminal device which is transmitted from a firstterminal device to a base station of a cellular system and acommunication control unit that a communication control unit thatcontrols transmission of the data such that the data is transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough a gateway that performs data transfer in the cellular system.The communication control unit controls transmission of informationrelated to the data to the gateway or a specific node. The specific nodeis a node that receives information related to another data which istransferred via the gateway from the gateway.

Accordingly, for example, it is possible to perform management relatedto transmission and reception of data while reducing the load on thecore network. More specifically, for example, since the data istransferred without going through the gateway, the load on the gatewayfrom the data transfer can be reduced. Further, since the data-relatedinformation is transmitted to the gateway or the specific node,management related to transmission and reception of data with no goingthrough the gateway can be also performed.

In the first embodiment, the apparatus is the base station 100, a basestation device for the base station 100, or a module for the basestation device, in the second embodiment, the apparatus is the networkdevice 200 or a module for the network device 200.

The preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been describedabove with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst the presentdisclosure is not limited to the above examples. A person skilled in theart may find various alterations and modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims, and it should be understood that they willnaturally come under the technical scope of the present disclosure.

For example, the example in which the cellular system is a system thatconforms to LTE, LTE-Advanced, or a communication standard equivalentthereto has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited tothe relevant example. For example, the cellular system may be a systemthat conforms to any other communication standard.

Further, it is not always necessary to execute the processing steps inthe processing in the present specification in chronological order inorder described in the flowcharts or the sequence diagrams. For example,the processing steps in the above-described processing may be executedin order different from the order described in the flowcharts or thesequence diagrams or may be executed in parallel.

Further, it is also possible to create a computer program for making aprocessor (such as, for example, a CPU and a DSP) provided at nodes(such as, the base station or the network device) in the presentspecification function as the components (for example, an informationacquiring unit or the communication control unit) of the above-describednodes (in other words, a computer program for making the processorexecute operation of the components of the above-described nodes).Further, it is also possible to provide a recording medium having theabove-described computer program recorded therein. Further, it is alsopossible to provide an apparatus (such as, for example, a finishedproduct and a module (such as parts, processing circuits and chips) forthe finished product) including a memory having the above-describedcomputer program stored therein and one or more processors which canexecute the above-described computer program. Further, a methodincluding the operation of the components (for example, an informationacquiring unit or the communication control unit) of the above-describednodes is included in the technique according to the present disclosure.

In addition, the effects described in the present specification aremerely illustrative and demonstrative, and not limitative. In otherwords, the technology according to the present disclosure can exhibitother effects that are evident to those skilled in the art along with orinstead of the effects based on the present specification.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

-   (1)

An apparatus, including:

an acquiring unit configured to acquire data destined for a secondterminal device which is transmitted from a first terminal device to abase station of a cellular system; and

a control unit configured to control transmission of the data in amanner that the data is transferred from the first terminal device tothe second terminal device without going through a gateway configured toperform data transfer in the cellular system,

wherein the control unit controls transmission of information related tothe data to the gateway or a specific node, and

the specific node is a node configured to receive, from the gateway,information related to another data transferred via the gateway.

-   (2)

The apparatus according to (1),

wherein the information related to the data includes information aboutat least one of the first terminal device and the second terminaldevice.

-   (3)

The apparatus according to (1) or (2),

wherein the information related to the data includes informationindicating an amount of the data.

-   (4)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3),

wherein the information related to the data includes informationindicating an amount of radio resources used for transmission of thedata.

-   (5)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4),

wherein the information related to the data includes information forcharging for transmission and reception of the data.

-   (6)

The apparatus according to (5),

wherein the control unit controls transmission of the information to thegateway or the specific node by a Bearer Binding and Event ReportingFunction (BBERF).

-   (7)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6),

wherein the information related to the data is information related todata of a packet unit.

-   (8)

The apparatus according to (7),

wherein the acquiring unit acquires an integrated packet in which theinformation related to the data and the data are encapsulated, andseparates the information related to data and the data from theintegrated packet.

-   (9)

The apparatus according to (8),

wherein the integrated packet includes predetermined indicationinformation indicating that the information related to data and the dataare encapsulated in the integrated packet.

-   (10)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6),

wherein the information related to the data is information related todata of a session unit.

-   (11)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7) and (10),

wherein the control unit generates the information related to the data.

-   (12)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (11),

wherein, when a condition for transfer from the first terminal device tothe second terminal device is satisfied, the control unit controlstransmission of the data in a manner that the data is transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway, and controls transmission of the information to thegateway or the specific node.

-   (13)

The apparatus according to (12),

wherein the condition is that the data is able to be transferred fromthe first terminal device to the second terminal device without goingthrough the gateway.

-   (14)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (13),

wherein the gateway is a serving gateway.

-   (15)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (14),

wherein the apparatus is the base station, a base station device for thebase station, or a module for the base station device.

-   (16)

The apparatus according to any one of (1) to (14),

wherein the apparatus is a network device or a module for a networkdevice.

-   (17)

A method, including:

acquiring data destined for a second terminal device which istransmitted from a first terminal device to a base station of a cellularsystem;

controlling, by a processor, transmission of the data in a manner thatthe data is transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through a gateway configured to performdata transfer in the cellular system; and

controlling, by the processor, transmission of information related tothe data to the gateway or a specific node,

wherein the specific node is a node configured to receive, from thegateway, information related to another data transferred via thegateway.

-   (18)

A program for causing a processor to execute:

acquiring data destined for a second terminal device which istransmitted from a first terminal device to a base station of a cellularsystem:

controlling transmission of the data in a manner that the data istransferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal devicewithout going through a gateway configured to perform data transfer inthe cellular system; and

controlling transmission of information related to the data to thegateway or a specific node,

wherein the specific node is a node configured to receive, from thegateway, information related to another data transferred via thegateway.

-   (19)

A recording medium having a program stored therein, the program causinga processor to execute:

acquiring data destined for a second terminal device which istransmitted from a first terminal device to a base station of a cellularsystem;

controlling transmission of the data in a manner that the data istransferred from the first terminal device to the second terminal devicewithout going through a gateway configured to perform data transfer inthe cellular system; and

controlling transmission of information related to the data to thegateway or a specific node,

wherein the specific node is a node configured to receive, from thegateway, information related to another data transferred via thegateway.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1-1, 1-2 cellular system-   10 base station-   20 core network-   21 gateway-   30 terminal device-   50 integrated packet-   100 base station-   151 information acquiring unit-   153 communication control unit-   200 network device-   251 information acquiring unit-   253 communication control unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: circuitryconfigured to: acquire data transmitted from a first terminal device toa second terminal device via a base station of a cellular system;control transmission of the acquired data from the first terminal deviceto the second terminal device, without transmitting the acquired data toa core network node, based on stored information in the base station,the stored information including identification information of the basestation and identification information of the second terminal device,the core network node being configured to perform data transfer in thecellular system; control transmission of information related to the datato the core network node; and control transmission of the acquired datafrom the base station to the second terminal device without transmittingthe acquired data to the core network node when the identificationinformation of the second terminal device is in the stored information,wherein the circuitry is further configured to acquire an integratedpacket in which the information related to the data and the data areencapsulated, and separate the information related to the data and thedata from the integrated packet, and wherein the integrated packetincludes predetermined indication information indicating that theinformation related to data and the data are encapsulated in theintegrated packet.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinformation related to the data includes information about at least oneof the first terminal device and the second terminal device.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information related to thedata includes information indicating an amount of the data.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information related to thedata includes information indicating an amount of radio resources usedfor transmission of the data.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the information related to the data includes information forcharging for transmission and reception of the data.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the circuitry is further configured tocontrol transmission of the information to the core network node by aBearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF).
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the information related to the data isinformation related to data of a packet unit.
 8. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the information related to the data is informationrelated to data of a session unit.
 9. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate theinformation related to the data.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, when a condition for transfer from the first terminal device tothe second terminal device is satisfied, the circuitry is furtherconfigured to control transmission of the data in a manner that the datais transferred from the first terminal device to the second terminaldevice without going through the core network node, and controltransmission of the information to the core network node.
 11. Theapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the condition is that the datais able to be transferred from the first terminal device to the secondterminal device without going through the core network node.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the core network node is aserving gateway.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theapparatus is the base station, a base station device for the basestation, or a module for the base station device.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a network device or amodule for a network device.
 15. A method, comprising: acquiring datatransmitted from a first terminal device to a second terminal device viaa base station of a cellular system; controlling, by a processor,transmission of the acquired data from the first terminal device to thesecond terminal device, without transmitting the acquired data to a corenetwork node, based on stored information in the base station, thestored information including identification information of the basestation and identification information of the second terminal device,the core network node being configured to perform data transfer in thecellular system; controlling, by the processor, transmission ofinformation related to the data to the core network node; controllingtransmission of the acquired data from the base station to the secondterminal device without transmitting the acquired data to the corenetwork node when the identification information of the second terminaldevice is in the stored information; and acquiring an integrated packetin which the information related to the data and the data areencapsulated, and separate the information related to the data and thedata from the integrated packet, wherein the integrated packet includespredetermined indication information indicating that the informationrelated to data and the data are encapsulated in the integrated packet.16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information related tothe data includes information about at least one of the first terminaldevice and the second terminal device.
 17. The method according to claim15, wherein the information related to the data includes informationindicating an amount of the data.
 18. The method according to claim 15,wherein the information related to the data includes informationindicating an amount of radio resources used for transmission of thedata.